DURING the week it is 14-storey tall building site.

But at the weekend Dumbleton Towers become a deadly playground where groups of people risk lives to clamber up scaffolding.

Now police have urged people not to try attempt the stunts and called witnesses to report such activity.

British Gas workers have been carrying out work on the towers, using scaffolding and lifts to traverse the tower blocks in Thornhill, and residents have reported seeing people using their scaffolding to scale the buildings when the workers leave.

Pictures have emerged of a person on top of the one of the Dumbleton Towers, having climbed up the building on Sunday night.

An image on social media, reportedly taken at around 9pm, shows a person hanging from the top of the aerial on the roof of the building.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "On Sunday night he was up there trying to take selfies - I think it is ridiculous and not safe.

"It is not safe to climb up there."

Daily Echo:

Johnny Maleny, 26, who lives nearby. also said he saw people on the scaffolding on Friday night.

He added: "There was a group of about four or five of them, about 18 or 19 years old, who were drunk and climbing on the scaffolding."

Daredevils have also bee witnessed climbing the scaffolding on one of the smaller towers.

Another Thornhill resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I saw someone pulling themselves up on the side of the scaffolding.

"I was quite shocked and thought 'what an idiot'.

"The scaffolding is pretty easy to get on.

"He could easily fall and break his legs or lose his life."

The scenes are particularity distressing for residents who remember Victoria Nye dying in a fall from the balcony of a Dumbleton Towers flat in 2010.

Daily Echo:

Leigh Franks, of British Gas, said: “We’re investigating this incident.

"The scaffolding structure in place has been secure since it was erected several months ago, along with fencing and gates, and signs warning people not to enter.

Southampton City Council has also written to all the local residents and community about the dangers of climbing on the scaffolding.

"For their own safety, residents are prohibited from entering these construction areas or climbing scaffolding.

"We’re urging people not to put themselves and others at risk.”

Cllr Simon Letts, leader of the councillor and a councillor for the Bitterne ward, said: "Let's hope that nobody falls off and kills themselves because their mothers and fathers would be mortified and distressed by such a stupid and rash action.

"I absolutely urge people not to climb on the scaffolding or any of the other scaffolding on buildings that are being built in the city.

"Apart from having security guards on duty all the time it is difficult to see what can be done, but I will personally contact the police and the community support officers and suggest they increase their patrols and warn anyone acting suspiciously about the potential dangers of climbing on the scaffolding."

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: "We are aware Dumbleton Towers is undergoing maintenance.

"We are not aware of any trespass incidents at this time however we would urge anyone who witnesses people climbing on scaffolding or equipment at the Dumbleton Towers site to contact us on 101.

"We are working closely with the maintenance company and the city council to ensure people are deterred from interfering with the site. People who are climbing up the scaffolding are putting themselves in danger and at risk of serious injury."